Railing system

ABSTRACT

A railing system including a top rail carrying a mounting member secured to spaced posts by fasteners, the mounting member being disposed below a top portion of the top rail having a longitudinal slot therein aligned with the mounting member, and an elongate insert strip removably received in the slot such that the fasteners are concealed from view by the insert strip. Various modifications of the railing system include pickets mounted between the top rail and a bottom rail, an insert strip for the bottom rail to conceal fasteners for the pickets, and channeled insert strips for the top and bottom rails to support top and bottom panels.

United States Patent 1191 Knott et al.

1451 Nov. 11, 1975 1 RAILING SYSTEM Assignee: Alan J. Dodd, Bradenton.Fla.

221 Filed: Aug. 13. 1973 1 Appl. No.: 387,599

[52] US. Cl. 256/59; 256/21; 256/22;

256/65 [51] Int. Cl.'- E0411 17/14 [58] Field of Search 256/21, 22. 24,59, 65-70;

3.463.456 8/1969 Walker 256/22 3.491.984 1/1970 Nyberg 256/21 3.498.5893/1970 Murdock. 256/70 3.522.933 8/1970 Braun 256/22 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 1.580.295 7/1969 France ..256/22 1.428.824 l/1966 France.256/21 Primary E.ranzinerWerner H. Schroeder AssixtantE.\'amil1erConrad L. Berman Attorney, Age/11. 0r Firm-Robert H. Epstein[57] ABSTRACT A railing system including a top rail carrying a mountingmember secured to spaced posts by fasteners. the mounting member beingdisposed below a top portion of the top rail having a longitudinal slottherein aligned with the mounting member, and an elongate insert stripremovably received in the slot such that the fasteners are concealedfrom view by the insert strip. Various modifications of the railingsystem include pickets mounted between the top rail and a bottom rail.an insert strip for the bottom rail to conceal fasteners for thepickets. and channeled insert strips for the top and bottom rails tosupport top and bottom panels.

13 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov.11, 1975 Sheet10f43,918,686

FIG.|

FIG?) US. Patent Nov. 11,1975 Sheet2of4 3,918,686

FIG.5

FIG.6

US. Patent Nov. 11,1975 Sheet3of4 3,918,686

FIG.7

FIGS

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U.S. Patent Nov. 11,1975 Sheet4of4 3,918,686

RAILING SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Thepresent invention pertains to railing systems and, more particularly, toextruded aluminum railing systems and components therefor.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art Extruded aluminum railing systems arefrequently used in the construction industry due to the strength thereofand the adaptability of such railing systems to permit various types andconfigurations of railings to be provided utilizing standard components.In order to optimize the use of such aluminum railing systems, thenumber of standard components is desirably kept at a minimum; however,the components must be designed to permit them to be securely fixedtogether to provide a safe and sturdy structure. Aluminum railingsystems are also advantageous due to their aesthetic appeal; and,accordingly, it is desirable that the fastening means for thecomponents, such as welds or screws, bolts, rivets or similar fasteners,be concealed from view.

Prior art aluminum railing systems, as exemplified by US. Pat. No.3,596,880 to Greenberg, have been designed to conceal the fasteningmeans from view by the use of additional components referred to asdressing plates or subrails; however, while the railing system of US.Pat. No. 3,596,880 has been found very effective and commerciallyacceptable, it is desirable to conceal the fastening means in a mannernot requiring additional components.

In order to provide a commercially acceptable railing system, therailing system must not only be aesthetically appealing, but further thecomponents thereof, such as pickets, posts, rails, panels and the like,must be fastened together in a manner to prevent collapse ormisalignment thereof while permitting simple and quick assembly forinstallation. For ease of assembly, it is preferable to utilize screwsor rivets-to fasten the components together; however, the use of suchfasteners presents the problem that the pickets, posts and panels have atendency to work loose and rattle after installation, particularly whensubjected to lateral forces tending to knock them out or twist them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is generallycharacterized in a railing system including a plurality of spaced postshaving lower ends adapted to be mounted on'aisupport and upper ends; anelongate top rail having atop portion ,with a longitudinal slot thereinand a, longitudinal mounting member disposed below the top portion andaccessible through the slot; means securing the upper ends of the poststo the mounting member; and an elongate insert strip removably receivedin the slot in the top portion of the top rail whereby the securingmeans are concealed from view by the insert strip.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome theabove mentioned disadvantages of the prior art by providing an aluminumrailing system utilizing a minimum number of components while beingcapable of modification for various applications.

Another object of the present invention is to utilize a single extrusionas a top rail for a railing system with an elongate insert stripinserted in a longitudinal slot therein to conceal fasteners from view.

A further object of the present invention is to utilize insert strips incombination with top and bottom rails of a railing system to conceal thefasteners securing the components of the railing system together.

5 The present invention has an additional object in the design of abottom rail for a railing system facilitating the mounting of panelsthereon.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a railingsystem utilizing square pickets and posts received in channels in topand bottom rails such that the pickets and posts are reinforced againstlateral movement and prevented from twisting.

An additional object of the present invention is to utilize areinforcing extrusion slidably received in a single top rail extrusionto increase the strength thereof.

The present invention has a further object in the design of an anglebrace for a railing system to secure a bottom rail to a pair of postswithout requiring conventional screws or rivets.

Some of the advantages of the present invention over the prior art arethat the number of components of the railing system is reduced whilepermitting the basic components to be universally utilized for variousdesigns and applications, the railing system can be easily assembledwith minimum labor and expertise, and the railing system facilitatesrepair or replacement of railing components without requiring completeremoval of the top rail as in prior art railing systems.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of the preferred embodimentstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a broken perspective view ofa railing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a broken vertical section taken along line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section-taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the railing system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a broken elevation partly in section of a modification of abottom rail for use in a railing system according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a railing systemaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a vertical section taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a broken vertical elevation partly in section of amodification of the panel support channel of the railing system of FIG.7.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a railingsystem according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a vertical section taken along line ll1l 60 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a modification of an angle brace foruse with the railing system of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a vertical section of a modified bottom rail for use with theangle brace of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a broken elevation of the railing system of the presentinvention utilizing the angle brace of FIG. 12 and the bottom rail ofFIG. 13.

FIG. is a section of a reinforced modification of the railing system ofthe present invention.

FIG. 16 is a broken perspective of the reinforced modification of FIG.15'.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A railing system 20 accordingto the present invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, includes aplurality of parallel spaced, vertical posts 22 having lower endsadapted to be mounted on a support 23, either by suitable mechanicalmeans, such as screws, rivets or the like, or fixed in a material suchas cement. The posts 22 are preferably formed of extruded aluminum andare square in cross section with longitudinal curved splines 24 carriedon the inner surface of each wall, as best shown in FIG. 3.

The posts 22 are attached to a top rail 26 at their upper ends, the toprail 26 being formed preferably of an aluminum extrusion and havingcurved longitudinal legs 28 terminating at laterally spaced, thickenedteardrop shaped lips 30 contacting the outer surfaces of the upper endsof the posts 22, as best shown in FIG. 2. The legs 28 are joined by aslightly curved top portion 32 having a longitudinal slot 33 thereinfrom the edges of which depends a mounting member 34 formed of a pair ofslightly outwardly diverging, longitudinal legs 35 and 36 joined by alongitudinal cross member 38. The ends of legs 35 and 36 extend beyondthe cross member 38 to contact the top edges of the posts 22 and definea longitudinal channel 40 in theltop rail. The slot 33 forms a trackdefined by grooves 44 and 46 formed in legs 35 and 36, respectively,adjacent the top portion 32. The cross member 38 has a plurality ofholes 48 disposed along the longitudinal center thereof and a pair ofself-tapping screws 50 extend through adjacent holes 48 to secure thetop rail 26 to each of the posts 22, as best shown in FIGS, the screws50 extending through the holes 48 to be received in the splines-24extending from the inner surface of opposite side walls of posts 22.

An elongate insert strip 52 has a configuration mating with theconfiguration of slot 33 with longitudinal flanges 54 and 56 received ingrooves 44 and 46, respectively, and a central portion 58 positionedsuch that the top surface thereof provides a continuous surface with thetop portion 32 of the top rail 26. The insert strip 52 can be made ofany suitable material, such as vinyl plastic or an aluminum extrusion.End plates 60 are mounted on the ends of the top rail and carry springarms 61 adapted to provide spring tension contact with the innersurfaces of the curved legs 28 of the top rail.

An extruded aluminum bottom rail 62 is mounted between pairs of posts 22in parallel with top rail 26 by angle braces 64 having anL-configuration with a horizontal leg thereof fixed to bottom rail 62 bya screw 66 and a vertical l'eg fixed to one of the posts 22 by a screw68. The horizontal leg of angle braces 64 abuts the lower surface of alongitudinal mounting member 70 of bottom rail 62, and the upper surfaceof the mounting member 70 is recessed below the edges of a pair oflongitudinal legs 72 depending from the mounting member to define alongitudinal channel 74 in the bottom rail. A plurality of spaced,parallel, extruded aluminum pickets 76 are vertically mounted betweenthe top and bottom rails, and each of the pickets 76 is square in crosssection, as best shown in FIG. 4, and has a longitudinal curved spline78 centrally formed by an extension from one of the sides thereof. Thepickets 76 are fixed at their upper ends by self-tapping screws80extending through the apertures 48 in the mounting member of the toprail to be received in the spline 78, and

the pickets 76 are secured to the bottom rail 62 by selftapping screws82 extending through holes 84 in mounting member 70 and received in' thespline 78.

The rectangular configuration of the pickets 76 of the railing system 20cooperating with the channels 40 and 74 in the top and bottom rails,respectively,assure that the pickets are reinforced against lateralforces I and are retained in the top and bottom rails to preventtwisting thereof. The recessed positioning of the mounting member 34ofthe top rail below the top por-' tion thereof permits all screws orother fasteners, such as rivets and the like, to be concealed by theinsertstrip 52, and the use of the insert strip 52, which may be eithersnapped into the track formed by grooves 44 and 46 or slid therein,further operates to provide a contrasting color strip centrallydisposedii'ithe top rail and invention only that such structure haveflat side surfaces to cooperate with-the flat sides of the channels'40and 74 in the top and bottomiails'to provide a sturdy construction. Thetear-drop lips 30'at the'edges of the le'gs'of the top rail permiteasyinsertion of the posts 22 to abut the ends of legs 35 and 36 and,further, provide a spring tension on the posts thereby eliminating anytendency of the posts to'rattle or work loose after'installation. Byutilizing square posts and pickets not only is' the railing system 20stabilized but, additionally, the posts are symmetrical for handlingpurposes thereby permitting all of theattaching holes 48 for the postsand the pickets to be forme d'in a str'aightline. In order to furtherincrease the aesthetic qualities'of the railing system 20, the legs-28of the top rail 26 extend below the mounting member 34 to conceal theabutment of the posts 22 therewith and the attachment of thepickets 76;and, similarly, the legs 72 of the bottom rail 62 f extend a distance soas to conceal the screws 66 and 82 and the vertical legsof the anglebraces 64. a I

A modification of the railing system20 of FIG. I is illustrated in FIG.6 wherein the longitudinal legs 72 of the bottom rail 62 are formed withthickened edges having grooves 86 therein adapted to receive flangesortongues of an insert'strip 88 such that the screws 82 and I the anglebraces 64 are concealed from view. Similar to the insert strip 52, theinsert strip 88 can be formed of plastic, such as vinyl, extrudedaluminum or any suitable material to be concealed or snapped into thetrack.

formed by grooves 86.

Another embodiment of a railing system 90 accord ing to the presentinvention is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 and components of the railingsystem 90 identical to components of the railing system 20 are givenidentical reference numbersand not described again. The primarydifference between the railing systems 20 and 90 is that the railingsystem 90 utilizes a panel assembly 1 92, the panel assembly includingan insert strip in the form ofa panel support channel member 94 havingIongitudinal bevelled ribs 96 extending from'opposite sides thereof andada'pte'd to'be received in the grooves 44 and 46 in the slot 33 in thecenter of the top portion:32 of the top rail 26. A plurality of panels98 are mounted in the panel support channel member 94 and capped by atop channel member 100, the channel members 94 and 100 beinginterconnected by uprights 102.

The channel member 94 can be made of any suitable material such as vinylplastic or extruded aluminum and the bevelled configuration at the ribs96 facilitates snap installation thereof in the slot 33. The panels 98may be glass, plastic or any suitable material providing a desireddecorative or concealing effect, and the panels can be stacked edge-wiseone upon the other to form a screen. 1

A modification of the railing system 90 is illustrated in FIG. 9 whereinan insert strip in the form ofa bottom channel member 104 is formed ofextruded aluminum and has bevelled ribs 106 extending from parallel legs108 which diverge to form a support channel 110 adapted to mount a panel112 of greater width than the panels 98 in FIGS. 7 and 8. The channelmember 104 can be snapped into the slot 33 due to'the bevelledconfiguration of the ribs 106, and the bottom ends of the legs 108contact the cross member 38 of the top rail 26 to stabilize thestructure.

A further embodiment of a railing system 110 ac cording to the presentinvention is illustrated in FIGS. and 11 and components of the railingsystem 114 identical to components of the railing system 90 are giventhe same reference numbers and not described again. The primarydifference between the railing systems 90 and 114 is that the panelassembly 92 is mounted between the bottom rail 62 and the support 23rather than on the top rail 26. The panel assembly 92 is inverted withthe channel member 94 snapped into the track formed in the bottom rail62 illustrated in FIG. 6 with the bevelled ribs 96 received in thegrooves 86. The channel member 100 rests on the surface of the support23 such that the panels 98 form a partition between the bottom rail 62and the support surface to define a kick or toe plate.

A modification of the railing system of the present invention isillustrated in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 wherein the angle braces mounting thebottom rails 62 between pairs of posts 22 are designed to permit thebottom rails to be secured thereto without separate fasteners. To thisend, an angle brace 116 has its horizontal leg 118 formed with barbs 120on the edges thereof, and the bottom rail 62 has a pair of dependingprojections 122 forming a channel for receiving the horizontal leg 118of the angle braces 116. As illustrated in FIG. 14, the vertical legs124 of the angle braces 116 are secured to posts 22 by means of screws68 while the horizontal legs 118 are received in the channels formed byprojections 122 with the barbs 120 engaging the mounting member 70 tohold the angle brace firmly in place with the bottom rail 62. With theuse of the barbed angle braces 116, the screws 66 are obviated such thatnone of the fasteners of the railing system are visible.

A reinforced modification of the railing system of the present inventionis illustrated in FIGS. and 16 wherein a reinforcing extrusion 126 isprovided with a configuration to be slidably received within the curvedlegs 28 of the top rail 26. The extrusion 126 has a cross member 128with longitudinal curved sides 130 having an outer configurationcorresponding to the configuration of the inner surface of the legs 28of the top rail, the bottom edges of the sides 130 being flattened at132 to accommodate the lips 30 of the top rail while the sides arespaced to receive the mounting member 34.

Any of the above described embodiments and modifications of the railingsystem of the present invention can be combined to provide a railingsystem of any desired configuration. Additionally, while theconfiguration of the top rail preferably utilizes curved longitudinalarms having confronting edges or lips for contacting the posts, the toprail can have any desired configuration with a mounting member recessedbelow a top portion such that a removable insert strip can be disposedin a slot in the top portion to hide the fasteners of the railingsystem. To this end, the top rail could take the form ofa closed memberhaving any configuration with a slot in a top wall thereof to permitaccess to the bottom wall which'would form the mounting member forsecuring the posts and the pickets. The width of the slot in the toprail need only be wide enough to permit insertion of a tool, such as ascrewdriver, for tightening or loosening the fasteners. Theconfiguration of the pickets and posts, while preferably rectangular,can also vary; however, it is advantageous that the pickets have flatsides to be engaged by the sides of the channels in the top and bottomrails and that the posts have flat sides to be engaged by theconfronting edges of the curved arms of the top rail in order to protectthe railing system from rattling or working loose.

Inasmuch as the present invention is subject to many variations,modifications and changes in detail, it is intended that all matterdescribed above or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. A railing system comprising a plurality of spaced posts having lowerends adapted to be mounted on a support and upper ends;

an elongate top rail having a top portion defining a surface with acentrally positioned longitudinal slot therein, a longitudinal mountingmember disposed below said top portion and accessible through said slot,and a pair of curved longitudinal legs depending from opposite sides ofsaid top portion and terminating at confronting edges spaced below saidmounting member and engaging said posts adjacent said upper ends suchthat said legs provide a spring tension on said posts to prevent saidposts from rattling or working loose, said top portion, said legs andsaid mounting member being integrally formed as a one-piece component;

means securing said upper ends of said poststo said mounting member; and

an elongate insert strip removably received in said slot in said topportion of said top rail and having a width substantially the same asthe width of said slot whereby said securing means are concealed fromview by said insert strip.

2. A railing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said top rail isformed of an aluminum extrusion and said insert strip is formed ofplastic.

3. A railing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said top rail and saidinsert strip are each formed of an aluminum extrusion.

4. A railing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said posts each carrycurved splines, said securing means includes screws extending throughsaid mounting member of said top rail to engage said curved splines andsaid slot in said top portion of said top rail is aligned with saidmounting member and has a width to receive a tool for tightening orloosening said screws.

5. A railing system as recited in claim I wherein said elongate insertstrip has a channel formed therein and further comprising a plurality ofpanels received in said channel.

6. A railing system asrecited in claim 1 wherein said top rail is formedof an aluminum extrusion and further comprising an extruded aluminumreinforcing member having a configuration mating with the configurationof said top rail and slidably received therein.

7. A railing system as recited in claim 1 and further comprising abottom rail disposed below said top rail having means projectingtherefrom to form a channel, and means for mounting said bottom railbetween a pair of said posts including a pair of angle braces, each ofsaid braces having a vertical leg fixed to one of said posts and abarbed horizontal leg engaged in said channel in said bottom rail.

8. A railing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said top rail has alongitudinal channel with flat sides formed in said mounting member andfurther comprising a bottom rail secured to a pair of said posts belowsaid top rail and having a longitudinal channel with flat sides formedtherein, a plurality of spaced pickets square in cross sectionhaving'curved splines centrally disposed therein, upper ends of saidpickets being received in said longitudinal channel in said top rail andlower ends of said pickets being received in said longitudinal channelin said bottom rail, a plurality ofscrews extending through saidmounting member of said top rail to engage said splines in said pickets,and a plurality of screws extending through said bottom rail to engagesaid splines in said pickets.

9. A railing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said posts are squarein cross section and have curved,

splines extending from the inner surface of each wall thereof, said toprail has curved longitudinal legs with edges engaging said posts, saidmounting member has a plurality of spaced holes therein, said securingmeans for each of said posts includes a pair of screws extending throughadjacent ones of said holes.

10. A railing system as recited in claim 1 and further comprising abottom rail secured to a pair of said posts below said top rail having amounting member with legs dependingtherefrom and terminating in spacedrela-.

13. A railing system as recited in claim 12 wherein said posts aresquare in cross section and said posts and said top rail are constructedof aluminum.

1. A railing system comprising a plurality of spaced posts having lowerends adapted to be mounted on a support and upper ends; an elongate toprail having a top portion defining a surface with a centrally positionedlongitudinal slot therein, a longitudinal mounting member disposed belowsaid top portion and accessible through said slot, and a pair of curvedlongitudinal legs depending from opposite sides of said top portion andterminating at confronting edges spaced below said mounting member andengaging said posts adjacent said upper ends such that said legs providea spring tension on said posts to prevent said posts from rattling orworking loose, said top portion, said legs and said mounting memberbeing integrally formed as a one-piece component; means securing saidupper ends of said posts to said mounting member; and an elongate insertstrip removably received in said slot in said top portion of said toprail and having a width substantially the same as the width of said slotwhereby said securing means are concealed from view by said insertstrip.
 2. A railing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said top railis formed of an aluminum extrusion and said insert strip is formed ofplastic.
 3. A railing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said top railand said insert strip are each formed of an aluminum extrusion.
 4. Arailing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said posts each carrycurved splines, said securing means includes screws extending throughsaid mounting member of said top rail to engage said curved splines andsaid slot in said top portion of said top rail is aligned with saidmounting member and has a width to receive a tool for tightening orloosening said screws.
 5. A railing system as recited in claim 1 whereinsaid elongate insert strip has a channel formed therein and furthercomprising a plurality of panels received in said channel.
 6. A railingsystem as recited in claim 1 wherein said top rail is formed of analuminum extrusion and further comprising an extruded aluminumreinforcing member having a configuration mating with the configurationof said top rail and slidably received therein.
 7. A railing system asrecited in claim 1 and further comprising a bottom rail disposed belowsaid top rail having means projecting therefrom to form a channel, andmeans for mounting said bottom rail between a pair of said postsincluding a pair of angle braces, each of said braces having a verticalleg fixed to one of said posts and a barbed horizontal leg engaged insaid channel in said bottom rail.
 8. A railing system as recited inclaim 1 wherein said top rail has a longitudinal channel with flat sidesformed in said mounting member and further comprising a bottom railsecured to a pair of said posts below said top rail and having alongitudinal channel with flat sides formed therein, a plurality ofspaced pickets square in cross section having curved splines centrallydisposed therein, upper ends of said pickets being received in saidlongitudinal channel in said top rail and lower ends of said picketsbeing received in said longitudinal channel in said bottom rail, aplurality of screws extending through said mounting member of said toprail to engage said splines in said pickets, and a plurality of screwsextending through said bottom rail to engage said splines in saidpickets.
 9. A railing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said postsare square in cross section and have curved splines extending from theinner surface of each wall thereof, said top rail has curvedlongitudinal legs with edges engaging said posts, said mounting memberhas a plurality of spaced holes therein, said securing means for each ofsaid posts includes a pair of screws extending through adjacent ones ofsaid holes.
 10. A railing system as recited in claim 1 and furthercomprising a bottom rail secured to a pair of said posts below said topRail having a mounting member with legs depending therefrom andterminating in spaced relation to define a track and an elongate insertstrip removably received in said track in said bottom rail.
 11. Arailing system as recited in claim 10 wherein said bottom rail insertstrip is formed with a channel therein and further comprising panelmeans received in said channel.
 12. A railing system as recited in claim1 wherein said confronting edges of said legs have tear-dropconfigurations to facilitate insertion of said posts.
 13. A railingsystem as recited in claim 12 wherein said posts are square in crosssection and said posts and said top rail are constructed of aluminum.